TAMPA, Fla. — As state lawmakers weigh potential property tax rollbacks later this year, concerns are growing about the long-term stability of the Hillsborough County Health Care Plan (HCHCP), which relies heavily on property tax revenue for funding. 

The program’s primary funding source comes from an ad valorem property tax. County data shows the plan’s fund balance is projected to shrink significantly in the long term.

What You Need To Know

The Hillsborough County Health Care Plan was created in 1991 to serve a growing population of low-income residents and residents without health insurance

HCHCP has seen a 20 percent increase in the number of people it serves since 2022

Four budget scenarios to be presented to commissioners on Wednesday outline reductions ranging from $34 million to as high as $80 million

The HCHCP relies on an ad valorem tax as its main funding source 

To understand the challenges facing the HCHCP, county officials point back to its creation in 1991. 

At the time, Hillsborough County stepped in to help local hospitals cover the cost of uncompensated care — providing medical services to low-income residents and people without health insurance.

More than three decades later, many of those same challenges remain.

In 2025 alone, the health care plan handled more than 800,000 medical claims. The majority were for prescription medications, but the program also covered more than 12,000 emergency room visits and nearly 60,000 doctor visits.

County officials expect those numbers to continue climbing — even as funding is reduced.

A budget presentation being delivered to county commissioners on Wednesday will outline four different funding scenarios. 

Each scenario includes a significant reduction in available funds, with cuts ranging from $34 million to as much as $80 million compared to last year’s budget.

How the Health Care Plan will adapt to those reductions is expected to be a key focus during a workshop on Wednesday. 

Program Director Kevin Wagner is scheduled to present a report to commissioners outlining potential strategies for managing the financial shortfall while continuing to meet rising demand.

The increase in need is already clear. 

Enrollment in the program has jumped 20 percent since 2022, according to county data. 

Last year alone, the Health Care Plan received more than 23,000 applications.